My Mitzie(leader of the pack)

[mypepsee]

Can anyone tell me how to control Mitzie's aggressiveness? If you just give her meds she shows her teeth and tries to bite you. And clipping nails she'll rip your face off. HOW can I show her *I'M* the leader of the pack...not *HER*!! :angryblo:

[2Chiwawa]

Hi Anne, Mitzie sounds like Gracie. Gracie growls and bites. I can't clip her nails myself I have to take both girls to get their nails done. I have taught Gracie a "no teeth" command when I am putting on her shirts or her leash. She has been better lately but she will bite if she thinks you are bossing her. I send her to her crate but this is still a problem. I took away the cushion that she was using to get up on the couch because she would bite me or Sammi on the couch. Sammi can jump up on the couch but Gracie cannot. So she is banished from the couch. I have set her up on the living room chair and sit with her over there. This has worked out much better for all concerned.

[Romans Mom]

Like Faye, we also use the "no teeth" command. We always have "no teeth on skin" even during play for Roman. Elle came "programmed" not to bite and won't bit if we want her to. LOL With trimming the nails, although not always necessary, it works best to have two people with him. One with clippers and one to hold and pet him and armed with a lot of shredded cheese to feed him and talk to him to keep his mind off of it. We find it works best when we put him on a damp towel on the dining table so he won't slip. We will be doing this tomorrow.

Also, when I had my dog grooming parlor, I found that if the dog owner was not there watching, the dogs would 100% never bite, but if they stayed to watch, the dogs more often than not acted up and often snapped or bit AT me. So just a suggestion that maybe it's best if someone else does her nails for you. I also used a soft muzzle sometimes for precaution. I made it out of a knee sock for Poodle size, so a small strip of T-shirt material would work fine for a Chihuahua. It's wrapped around the nose and tied around the back of the neck; it does not have to be tight to work... and only restricts the biting. (You will see which way it goes around the nose--up from the bottom and then cross over the nose) And also, medication can be used to calm her and in combination of the two.

[mypepsee]

Hi Anne, Mitzie sounds like Gracie. Gracie growls and bites. I can't clip her nails myself I have to take both girls to get their nails done.

YUP!!! I have to do that too. There are soooo many things I wish she'd let me do for her health....like brush her teeth...I DID tho get her to let me brush her....I think NOW she likes it and it feels good to her...and MAN SHE SHEDS!!!!!


I send her to her crate but this is still a problem. I took away the cushion that she was using to get up on the couch because she would bite me or Sammi on the couch. Sammi can jump up on the couch but Gracie cannot. So she is banished from the couch. I have set her up on the living room chair and sit with her over there. This has worked out much better for all concerned.

Well Mitzie USED to sleep with me and the boys at night but Mitz likes to sleep UNDER the covers and the boys on top...well in the middle of the night if *ANY* of us moved Mitzie would growl and bite what ever a movement that happens....then one night I turned in my sleep and Mitz BIT ME RIGHT IN THE BUTT!!!!! :mad: So that was it...she now sleeps in her crate at night and she doesn't mind at all!! I put a few soft fluffy blankies in it for her and she loves it!!! :-)

[mypepsee]

With trimming the nails, although not always necessary, it works best to have two people with him. One with clippers and one to hold and pet him and armed with a lot of shredded cheese to feed him and talk to him to keep his mind off of it.

LOL!! Guess what worked for ME in the past?? I'd get a glob of pnut butter on the roof of her mouth and she *COULDN'T bite then!!!LOL!! She was too busy lick lick licking!!! LOLOL!!! But THAT only worked for only 3 or 4 times .THEN any time I'd go in the cupbord to get the jar she head for the hills!!!!

Also, when I had my dog grooming parlor, I found that if the dog owner was not there watching, the dogs would 100% never bite, but if they stayed to watch, the dogs more often than not acted up and often snapped or bit AT me. So just a suggestion that maybe it's best if someone else does her nails for you.

Oh YES!! NOW Mitz gets her nails done at the vet

I also used a soft muzzle sometimes for precaution.

Even trying to put a muzzle on Mitzie you mite miss a few fingers!! I NEVER see when the vet tech takes Mitzie in the back to clip her nails.but they do a *GREAT* job!! I ask them was she a problem?? And they always say something like."Oh She's a perfect little angel!!" :bs:

[Amaze]

There is an EXCELLENT book called "The Dog Listener" that to me, was an "A HA!" moment when reading. It has helped me with Heuser especially because he thinks he is my alpha partner, not Matt. Matt even read the parts I asked him too and practices her suggestions (like eating first, not fussing over the dogs when we leave or come back, and putting them 'away' from the pack (in a different room) when they misbehave). Mitzi definately thinks she is the Alpha in your house and you might find this book helpful-it is not the "roll-them-on-their-backs-look-them-in-their-eyes" way of thinking-more like a subtle wolf-pack leader asserting dominance in stance, attitude, and behavior...

[mypepsee]

There is an EXCELLENT book called "The Dog Listener" that to me, was an "A HA!" moment when reading. It has helped me with Heuser especially because he thinks he is my alpha partner, not Matt. Matt even read the parts I asked him too and practices her suggestions (like eating first, not fussing over the dogs when we leave or come back, and putting them 'away' from the pack (in a different room) when they misbehave). Mitzi definately thinks she is the Alpha in your house and you might find this book helpful-it is not the "roll-them-on-their-backs-look-them-in-their-eyes" way of thinking-more like a subtle wolf-pack leader asserting dominance in stance, attitude, and behavior...

Just want to know....whose Matt? I guess your boyfriend/hubby? I heard about that book....and I think the guy who wrote it had some programs on "Animal Planet" (?) If you jump over to A.P. web-site check it out. I sure *DO* want to get that book!! Mitzie can be a real handfull at times!! AND *YES* she thinks SHE rules and the rest of us drools :angryblo: And not just at the home front....even during a walk or at the vets etc. Also try to do anything she will put her foot down...like giving her a pill for something she *NEEDS* to take....how do you get over *THAT* battle!??? :mad: Also she likes to be cuddled but SHE says when and when not. If she's not in the mood she'll let you know that's for sure. But I *DO* love her with all my heart. I'm very interested in knowing how she will handle once I buy a new place to live and get them all back. She would have been in several different 'foster homes' and I KNOW the folks who have been caring for them and getting 'reports' about how she is handling things. At one place she was getting bossy with poor little Oreo I told the foster that I *KNOW* she would *NEVER* hurt the boys just growling and snapping in the air at them. I have a strong feeling once we are all back together again she will be very happy again....so if I read that book *NOW* it will give us all a new start and how I should act around her as the leader of the pack!! :wink:

[2Chiwawa]

Hi Anne, I LOL when I read about the boys and Mitzi in the bed. That's my life to a tee. Gracie sleeps behind my behind and Sammi sleeps against my stomach. If I move around too much Gracie growels. She hasn't snapped lately. But just to stay on the safe side I have to wait until she is very sound asleep to get really comfortable. The more sound asleep she is the more I can shove her over with my leg so I can get to sleep myself. Sammi just hangs in there and sleeps through it all. The most she does when I move around too much is to give a big sigh. Over all I would not want to even try to go to sleep without them because they are such a comfort breathing against me. They have me trained very well not to crate them at night.

[mypepsee]

Hi Anne, I LOL when I read about the boys and Mitzi in the bed. That's my life to a tee. Gracie sleeps behind my behind and Sammi sleeps against my stomach. If I move around too much Gracie growels. Sammi just hangs in there and sleeps through it all. The most she does when I move around too much is to give a big sigh. Over all I would not want to even try to go to sleep without them because they are such a comfort breathing against me.

Oh I'll tell you!! Since I've been in this shelter (NINE MONTHS so far :-( ) I have such a hard time sleeping cuz I don't have my living teddy bears!! Oh heres something funny. When I first got my Chico and for about a week & a half in the middle of the night he'd place his paw right on my nose....night after night he'd do this...and I would be in a dead sleep...it was driving me crazy....now I haven't slept with a human for a long long time :shock: And I wanted to figure out WHY Chico was doing this....THEN IT DAWNED ON ME! :w00t: I must snore at night and he trys to get me to stop!! Well NOW that I know this I sleep in a different side and where he can reach his paw! :wink:

[2Chiwawa]

Oh Anne, I hope you and the "teddy bears" can all sleep in a big bed together very soon.:neutral:

[mypepsee]

Oh Anne, I hope you and the "teddy bears" can all sleep in a big bed together very soon.:neutral:

Thank you :D I'm sure your babies sleep with you at night....and you cuddle up to them. It's been 9 months for me without them :cry2:
....but I'll tell you something funny....a friend of mine gave me 3 teddy bears and said that she hopes I'll be able to sleep well at night.....but ya know?? It really ain't the same. :cry:

[Bren75]

Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing. I'm sending ya hugs!

Hope things are going a little better.

Brenda :)